Stories from Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Flag presented to son of POW(11/14/12)On Friday, Cassville High School presented the Flag of the United States of America to Cassville resident Chuck Miner in honor of his father, Lt. Col. William D. Miner, who served in the United States Army and was a prisoner of war during World War II...

ERGMFPD ISO rating could lower home insurance costs(11/14/12)Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Protection District residents are encouraged to check their homeowner insurance rates after the fire protection district's new, lower ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating became effective on Nov. 1. This summer, the ISO completed a public protection classification survey of the Eagle Rock-Golden-Mano Fire Protection District. The survey resulted in an improvement to the district's ISO rating from an 8 to a 7...

Early deadlines(11/14/12)In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Cassville Democrat office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 23. The newspaper staff will also require the following early deadlines for our Wednesday, Nov. 21 edition: Advertising must be placed by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15...

Swadley explores "American Idol" competition(11/14/12)Millions of Americans are engrossed with the "American Idol," and for one local girl, the chance to compete on the big stage became more than a wild dream and had some unexpected results. Brooke Swadley, the daughter of Jeff and Angie Swadley, of Purdy, is a 2011 graduate of Purdy High School. She is currently a freshman at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, attending on a softball scholarship following her outstanding performance for the Lady Eagles last year...

Christmas Show sponsors needed(11/14/12)The Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting sponsors for the fourth annual Christmas Show, which will be performed at the Crowder College Cassville Campus Community Building on Thursday, Nov. 29 and Friday, Nov. 30. Sponsorships range from $25 to $100. ...

Exeter announces holiday events(11/14/12)The City of Exeter has announced the date and times for the community's holiday dinner and parade. The annual Christmas Dinner will be offered in the Exeter Community Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. Meals, which will cost $5 each, will be prepared by Calla Bacon and Cheryl Lee, of C&C Country Store...

Holiday shoe box operation underway(11/14/12)Area residents are invited to gather shoe boxes and small toys and treats for this year's Operation Christmas Child effort. Boxes will be accepted at the First Baptist Church in Cassville until 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19. "We collected 760 shoe boxes last year," said Jackie Hendrix, on-site coordinator. "That was up by over 150 from the year before. This year, we have raised our goal to 800."...

Washburn Christmas Parade is Dec. 8(11/14/12)The Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the sixth annual Washburn Christmas Parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. The top entries in the religious floats, non-religious floats, commercial floats and horse categories will receive a $50 cash prize. Second place in each category will earn $25, and $10 will be awarded to third place entries...

Shoeboxes for Soldiers Christmas campaign underway(11/14/12)The Shoeboxes for Soldiers campaign sending gift supplies to Americans serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is now underway. The local deadline for sending boxes is Dec. 1. The boxes used are the large Priority Mail boxes available for free from the United States Post Office...

Blood donations needed(11/14/12)After Hurricane Sandy forced the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives along the East Coast causing a shortfall of thousands of donations. Area residents are invited to help boost donations by taking part in upcoming blood drives. "The holiday season is just around the corner, and the American Red Cross asks everyone to support its mission by giving something meaningful -- hope for those in need," said Alan Gibson, American Red Cross communications program manager. ...

Museum to hold book signing(11/14/12)The Barry County Museum will hold a book signing for the 18th volume of "Lifetimes of Memories: Voices of Barry County" from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16. The newest volume of "Lifetimes of Memories" features Jim Bower, Mabel (Taylor) Hilburn and Don Myers...

Cassville soccer players gather honors(11/14/12)Even though the season has ended for the Wildcats soccer team, postseason awards are starting to flow in for the Cassville athletes. Six Wildcats were named to the Class 1, All-District 12 team. David Verde, Wyatt Lopez and Indy Cole received first team honors. Brady Pry, Kendal Branham and Zach McGuffey were named to the second team...

Bass Pro Outdoor Fitness Festival attracts running crowd(11/14/12)The annual Bass Pro Outdoor Fitness Festival was held on Nov. 4 in Springfield, featuring the running of the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon and the Cohick Half-Marathon. The number of runners swelled this year to 432 finishers for the marathon and 1,446 for the half marathon event. Many runners ended up in Springfield after the cancellation of the New York City marathon due to Hurricane Sandy...

Register now for turkey trots(11/14/12)Area residents still have time to register for local 5K runs to be held on Thanksgiving Day in Pierce City and Monett. The second annual Pilgrims' Run in Pierce City will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 22. The event, which benefits the local Food for Thought backpack program, is sponsored by the Decatur Lodge #400. In addition to the 5K run, area residents can also participate in a one-mile walk...

CMS basketball shines at Triway Tournament(11/14/12)The Cassville Middle School seventh and eighth grade Lady Wildcats basketball teams opened the season with a solid showing in the Triway Basketball Tournament, taking first and second place respectively. The seventh grade Lady Wildcats (3-0) opened play in the tourney with a 36-13 victory over Sarcoxie on Oct. 27...

County Calendar(11/14/12)SUPPORT GROUP: The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group of Cassville meets at 8 p.m. at 1308 Harold St. in Cassville. For more information, call 846-4044. SUPPORT GROUP: Anyone who is concerned about a friend's or loved one's drinking is invited to attend the Cassville Al-Anon Family Group, which meets at 8 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cassville...

LEWIS C. CORRELL(11/14/12)Lewis C. Correll, 88, of Cassville, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Mercy Hospital, Cassville. He was born Sept. 9, 1924, in Hickory, N.C., the son of Rev. Andrew Correll and Hattie (Jonas) Correll. On May 2, 1946, in North Carolina, he was united in marriage to Frankie Houston, who survives...

PERSHING FOCH "JACK" ELLIOTT(11/14/12)Pershing Foch "Jack" Elliott, 93, of Exeter, passed away Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Ozark Medical Center, West Plains. He was born Dec. 24, 1918, in Pottstown, Penn., the son of Frank K. and Della (Hallman) Elliott. On Aug. 10, 1940, he was united in marriage to Rachael Frymoyer, who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents; one daughter, Jackie Smith, who died in 2009; two sisters, Gwen and Murial; and one brother, Frank...

EVALEAH E. VAUGHN(11/14/12)Evaleah E. Vaughn, 63, of Pittsburg, Kan., formerly of Cassville, passed away Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Freeman West Hospital, Joplin. She was born Aug. 9, 1949, in Long Beach, Calif., the daughter of James and Letha (Riott) Brown, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was one brother, James Brown...

HERBERT J. WAXELMAN(11/14/12)Herbert J. Waxelman, 87, of Cassville, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Cassville. He was born on Oct. 8, 1925, in Chicago, Ill., to Benjamin and Carolyn (Pruschansky) Waxelman. He attended Washington University in St. Louis where he received a bachelor's degree in architecture. ...

CHS Veterans Day essays(11/14/12)This week, we have chosen to use our editorial space to publish Veterans Day essays by two Cassville High School students. These essays were selected as the best among CHS composition students. The authors received the opportunity to read their works during the district's annual Veterans Day assembly that was held in the CHS gymnasium on Nov. 9...